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A  bill  to  be  en 
Conf  Pam  #259 


[IIousE  OF  Representatives,  Xo.  3G7.] 

HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  February  10, 18(35.— Read 
lirst  and  second  times,  referred  to  a  select  committee  of  one  from 
each  Stale,  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 

[By  Mr.  Babksdale. 


A    BILL 

To  be  entitled  An  Act  to  increase  the  military  force  of  the  Confed- 
erate States. 

1  The  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America  do  enact, 

2  That   in  order  to   provide  additional  forces  to  rep^l  invasion, 

3  Hiainiain  the  rightful  possession  of  the  Confederate  States,  se- 

4  cure  ilieir  independence  and  preserve  their  institutions,  the  Pre- 

5  sident  be  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  to  ask  for  and  accept  from 
H  the  owners  of  slaves  the  services  of  s  ich  number  of  able-bodied 
T  negro  men  as  he   may  deem  expedient,  for  and  during  the  war, 

8  to  perform  military  service  in  whatever  capacity  the  Ueaeral-in- 

9  Chief  may  direct. 

1  Sec.  2.     That  the  President  be  authorized  to  organize  the  said 

2  slaves  into  companies,  battalions,  regiments  and  brigades,  under 

3  siich  rules  and  regulations  as  the  Secretary  of   War  may  pre- 

4  scribe,  and  to  be  commanded  by  such  officers   as  the   President 

5  may  appoint. 

1  Sec.  3,     That  while  employed  in  the  service  the  said  slaves  shall 

2  receive  the  same  rations,  clothing  and  compensation  as  are  allow- 


2 

3  ed  in  the  Act  approved  February  17tli,  1864,  and  the  Acts  amen- 

4  datory  thereto,  ''to   increase  the  efficiency  of  the  army  by  tlie 
6  employment  of  free  negroes  and   slaves  in  certain  capacities," 

6  and  tlie  compensation  so  allowed  shall  be  maie  to  tlie  owner  or 

7  to  the  slave  as  the  owner  thereof  may  elect. 

1  Sec.  4.    That  nothing  in  this  Act  shall  be  construed  to  author- 

2  ize  a  change  in  the  relation  which  the  said  slaves  shall  bear  to- 

3  wards  their  owners  as  property,  except  hj  consent  of  the  States 

4  in  which  they  may  reside,  and  in  pursuance  of  the  laws  thereof. 


I  3ttl  ■ 


pH8.5 


